Metal package or can



(No Model.)

G. W. KNAPP.

METAL PACKAGE 0R CAN.

No. 339,033. Patented Mar. 30, 1333.

c 1? Fig.1.

Unrren TATES a'rnnr tries.

GEORGE \V. KNAPP, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

METAL PACKAGE OR CAN.

ZPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 339,063, dated March 30, 1886.

A pplicaiion lllrd January 27, 1886.

Serial No. 180,906. (No model.)

To coZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. KNAPP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMetal Packages or Cans, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved metal package or can for paints, varnishes, putty, and other articles; and it consists in a novel construction of the top and manner of securing it to the body of the can, whereby after the top has been secured to the body its rimilange may be cut to permit of its removal, and still leave it in condition to be used as a slip-cover, as hereinafter specified.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a view of part of the can'body and a partlysectional view of the top previous to its being secured to the body. Fig. 2 is a view of the can-body with the top secured thereto. Fig. 3 is a diametrical section of the top without the wire ring in the groove. Fig. 4 is a side View of the top, partly broken away, to expose the wire ring to view. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the top. Fig. 6 shows a side view of part of the can-body, and aside view of the top after being cut and removed from the body, and illustrates the final position of the cut wire ring on the body. The two ends of the ring, it will be seen, are not connected.

The body A may be made in any suitable way and of ordinary tin-plate. Its upper edge is without bead, wire, or other ordinary stiffening. At this stage, therefore, it is flexible. 1

The top B has a rinrflange, B, ofsoft metal or taggers tin, which slips down around the can-body. The rim-flange may be integral with the top, as shown in Fig. 3, or may be a separate piece attached to the top by a seam, o, as shown in Fig. 1. The rinrflange has near its lower edge, and extending entirely around it, an internal groove, (1, below which is a short edge, e, on the same plane as the upper part of the rinrfiange. A ring of iron wire, f, whose ends are unconnected,

occupies the internal groove, and previous to the top being soldered to the body the ring retains its place by its inherent tendency to expand or spring outward. The top may have a central hole, g, which is closed, after the can has been filled,with a tin cap of wellknown construction soldered to the top.

As above described, the can and top are in condition to be furnished to the manufacturer of paint, varnish, putty, or other simi lar articles, or the top may first be securedto the body by solder, h, appliedtothe short edge e and body. The iron-wire ringf, which is in the groove just above the short edge e, serves several purposes: first, to prevent this solder from flowing between the rim-flange B and the body, thereby in securing the top the solder takes effect only on the said short edge e.

\Vhen it is desired to remove the soldered can-top, the rinrtlange B may be cut or severed by passing the point of a knife around the exterior shoulder, d, which was produced by forming the internal groove, (1. The wire ringf below the shoulder (1 serves to facilitate the cutting of the thin metal at d by the point of the knife. \Vhen the rim-flange has been thus cut at the point named, the top B and rim-flange B may be readily removed, as shown in Fig. 6, leaving the groove, short edge e, and wire ring attached to the canbody. The wire ring now serves to stiffen the upper edge of the body. it will be seen the top is sever-able, and after being cut loose from the body may be used as a slip-cover.

The short edge e below the groove is deemed a desirable construction; but if there were no short edge the solder It could be applied to the body and the exterior of that part of the rim-flange which incloses the wire ring. My invention, therefore, is not limited to the said short edge.

Having described my invention, Iclaini and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. A metal package consisting of a body, A, and a severablc top, ll, having a rimfla-ngc which slips down around the body, and

is provided with an internal groove, and an wire ring which occupies the said groove, as iron-wire ring which occupies the said groove, set forth.

1:) as set forth. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 2. A metal package consisting of a body, presence of two witnesses. A, and a severable top, B, having a rimflange which slips down around the body, and I Vitnesses:

GEORGE \V. KNAPP.

is provided with an internal groove and a short edge below the groove, and an iron- JOHN E. MORRIs, V JNo. T. DLLDDOX. 

